stagnate / stay
N2- Onyomi
- タイ
- Kunyomi
- とどこお(る)
- Stroke count
- 13
- JLPT
- N2
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 滞 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture a river bending past a stone in its current, put 滞 inside it, and let that scene stand for "stagnate" — stagnate / stay. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 13
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は13画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 13 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
滞在
taizai
stay
停滞
teitai
stagnation
滞る
todokooru
to be delayed
滞納
tainou
payment arrears
沈滞
chintai
stagnation
渋滞
juutai
traffic jam
Example sentences (4)
東京に一週間滞在しました。
とうきょう に いっしゅうかん たいざい しました。
toukyou ni isshuukan taizai shimashita.
I stayed in Tokyo for a week.
滞在が三か月を超える場合は、在留カードが必要になります。
たいざい が さんかげつ を こえる ばあい は、ざいりゅう かーど が ひつよう に なります。
taizai ga sankagetsu o koeru baai wa, zairyuu kaado ga hitsuyou ni narimasu.
If your stay exceeds three months, you will need a residence card.
交渉が停滞しています。
こうしょう が ていたい しています。
koushou ga teitai shiteimasu.
The negotiations are stagnating.
議論が停滞しているときこそ、外の意見が役に立ちます。
ぎろん が ていたい している とき こそ、そと の いけん が やく に たちます。
giron ga teitai shiteiru toki koso, soto no iken ga yaku ni tachimasu.
It is exactly when discussion stalls that an outside opinion helps.